A Text Message From Eternity

Introduction

Good Morning. We are getting through the first pages of the chapter for the new year. One thing I’ve begun to notice is the concept of time. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to notice the clock has begun to move. I can say now, oh yeah it’s moving. I wonder why when we were younger time was not all that important to us. We didn’t count the days, weeks, perhaps months, but we did notice the years. I’ve heard as time goes one, we begin to count the hours rather than the days.

For a child when you say, wait a minute, it can seem like eternity. But we realize, a minute is not all that long. That’s what life’s like here. We don’t like waiting, and it’s God who’s saying wait just a minute. That’s how fast life can go here on earth. Life goes pretty fast. Many of us understand that death is no friend. No one want to die, and nobody wants to see someone the love die. It’s a bummer to think that we’re just mere mortals. Folks, our days on this rock will not last forever.

The Bible teaches that when we die there is one of two places we will spend eternity. The issue is not “will I live forever.” The question is the address of where you will spend eternity. We will either spend an eternity separated from God, or an eternity in fellowship and worship with God.

If we spend an eternity separated from God, it begs the question what would it be like? What would hell be like? Is it possible to get a look at it now? There’s an interesting story in the Bible that Jesus tells about what it is like to be in hell. It’s like having a behind the scenes look. Many of us like behind the scenes look. It helps satisfy our curiosity, and helps us understand what’s going on. This morning we’re going to get a behind the scenes look. I’d like to invite you to open your Bibles to Luke Chapter 16, and we’ll be reading verses 22 through 31.

Luke 16:22–24 ESV

22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’

Luke 16:25–26 ESV

25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’

Luke 16:27–31 ESV

27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”

Pastoral Prayer

[Display Verses 22-24]

Scripture does not say anything about the religious state of either Lazarus or the rich man. We do know that Lazarus was “carried by the angels to Abraham’s side,” and that the rich man “was buried.” The only thing these two men had in common way dying. The difference here is Jesus emphasized what happened to these two men after death. Not only was Lazarus in heaven, he was carried to “Abraham’s side.” The rich man was with his master — money. Money took him to Hades, a place of torment. What’s interesting is some how the rich man could see Lazarus in heaven. Before we get too far out of context, we can’t say for sure that those others suffering torment in hell can see into heaven. The rich man was able to distinguish a meaningful contrast between heaven and hell.

To get back to the question — what would hell be like? First, there will be no rest. The condition of hell will be everlasting fire. Matthew 18:8 talks about if a part of your person causes you to sin, to remove it rather than your whole person “be thrown into the everlasting fire.” Mark 9:47-48 talks about how the fire of hell “is not quenched.” The fire keeps burning forever! Verse 24 says, “And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame’.”

I burned my arm on an iron around Thanksgiving. The burn hurt for weeks, even after the skin had begun to heal over. The scar that I’m left with, if I rub or scratch it, the nerves to this day are sensitive. I can feel a tingle. If you’ve ever been burned, you know the feeling. The feeling of a 1000 knives coming down on that one area. All your thoughts are consumed at that moment, focusing on the pain from the burn. Now, try to imagine that same feeling going on over your entire body. The feeling a 1000 knives coming at you from all directions never stopping.

The rich man is in anguish. There is never a break from the pain or a cool "time out” to offer some respite. The rich man wishes for some, even if it lasts only for a second or less. All he asks for a very thin layer of water that coats Lazarus’s finger, something very simple. This means hell will be without rest day or night — forever and ever. This tells us that our mind and soul will be able to feel the full experience of the hell fire.

[Display Verses 25-26]

You know, a second interesting point that somehow Abraham is able to communicate with the rich man. This shows, with God, anything is possible. God made it possible where these two could carry on a conversation. But! Look at how Abraham starts. He starts with the word “child” packaged with “remember.” Those of you who are parents, when you child was unhappy whether they were 4 or 40 because of a decision the made caused them unhappiness, I’m willing to bet you were ready to do what you could to ensure their happiness, even if that meant you sacrificing greatly on their behalf. When they still don’t understand the error of their ways, we take them aside, sometimes in a tender voice, and counsel them. That’s what is going here. Abraham addresses the rich man tenderly, but he also uses the word “remember.” Abraham is going into a history lesson for the rich man.

Abraham explains he had “received your good things.” Abraham is not saying receiving good things from God is bad, or that receiving good things should be frowned upon. If you think about it, God blesses each one of us on a daily basis with good things. His blessing are around us all the time. What he’s saying is the things which he received were used for a self-serving purpose. They were used to serve his desires. When God gifts you something, how is what you’ve received going to be used to bring glory and honor to Him? The rich man had chosen what he wanted and now he must abide by his choice.

Abraham goes to point out there is a difference between where he and Lazarus are and where the rich man is. Abraham says, “between us and you an great chasm has been fixed.” This word “chasm” is unique, as it only exists right here in verse 26. It means: “a cleft, ravine or pit which separates two places.” The great chasm is separating the abode of the rich man “from that of Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom.” The context and emphasis which this word is used is showing a final division. We see that here in the last half of verse 26: “in order that those who would pass from here to you man not be able, and none may cross from there to us.”

This means once a person is in hell there will be no redemption. A person at that time will be beyond the passionate help of Jesus. While we are on earth we have redemption available. Every person on earth inherited the evil nature acquired at the fall of humanity in the garden of eden. To allow us to stand redeemed in the presence of God, we need another nature. A nature that is not evil, but one that is righteous and hole. How is a person redeemed, or regenerated?

A person becomes regenerated when s/he hears the gospel, repents, and by faith receives Jesus Christ as his/her personal Savior. This is what allows a person to stand in the presence of God. It’s important to understand nothing evil is allowed to enter the gates of heaven. It‘s only through Jesus Christ that we are allowed to enter. Jesus is the one who came forward who willing to pay the price for redemption. The Bible says:

1 Peter 1:18–19 ESV

18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

When a soul is in hell, that soul will be beyond the preaching of Jesus, beyond praying to Jesus, beyond the pardon of Jesus. There will be no salvation in hell. The time to receive a pardon is now. No one on this rock knows the hour when the window of salvation will close. Paul understood this when he said to the Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 6:2 ESV

2 For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

“Now is the day of salvation.” Folks, the window is open, and we don’t know for how long. For the rich man, the window had closed. He realizes that. He realizes his decision is permanent! Look at what happens next:

[Display Verses 27-31]

For this first time, we see a concern and interest for others! The rich man asks, in fact begs that someone goes to his “five brothers — so that he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment.” The rich man wants the warning sent out, he wants his five brother warned of the torment that awaits others in hell. He wants a message sent. For us today, it would like trying to get a text message sent from eternity to warn our loved ones of the torment. Even is someone could get a message out of hell to warn us, for some it still would not be enough.

Abraham tells the rich man that “they have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.” Abraham is essentially saying, they have all they need to come to repentance and faith in the Lord. Nothing more is needed. That answer didn’t satisfy the rich man. He wanted more. He wanted to make sure his brothers really grasped the severity of the situation. The rich man thought that “if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” This still wouldn’t carry any water. His brothers would still need to “hear Moses and the Prophets.” Convincing them through rising someone from the dead wouldn’t work.

If someone you knew was raised from the dead to warn you about the torment in hell. Would you believe them? Would others believe them? Or could it be said, “what’s going on here — someone get them some help — or someone get me some help!!”

Conclusion

We have one major difference today. As Abraham was telling the rich man that his brothers have Moses and the Prophets, to come to faith in the Lord, we have the same information, except we now have words of God in the flesh giving us extra explanation. PLUS, we can go back and see how the Son of Man fulfilled prophecy. We see how it all fits together.

We’ve been given more Scripture. We’ve been given a greater responsibility. This means when we make our instant transition from this life into eternity, there will be no way we can claim that “I didn’t know, or I wasn’t giving an opportunity to learn.” God had provided many opportunities.

Perhaps you might be sitting there this morning jittery as a June bug hearing all this talk about hell. If I were to ask — How’s you salvation? Are you truly saved through Jesus Christ? If not, you have an opportunity to change your eternal address from hell to heaven. This is an opportunity to come into a relationship with God who has always loved you. This morning you can be forgiven of you sin. You can have a second chance in life if you need it.

Closing Prayer

Let’s pray. Now Lord we pray every person in this worship center. We pray that You will speak to their heart, helping them to see that these words that we have shared are true. Help them Father to respond to Your loving call, saying yes to Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.